FMC ORGANIZES MORE HEARINGS ON PACIFIC CARRIERS’ CONTRACTUAL PRACTICES

FMC ORGANIZES MORE HEARINGS ON PACIFIC CARRIERS’ CONTRACTUAL PRACTICES    The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission will hold hearings in Long Beach, San Francisco and Seattle concerning practices of Transpacific Stabilization Agreement shipping lines covering the 2002-2003 service contract season.
   The meetings are scheduled for Oct. 15 at 9:00 a.m. in Long Beach, Oct. 16 at 9:30 a.m. in San Francisco, and Oct. 17 at 9:00 a.m. in Seattle.
   The FMC opened a fact finding investigation in August to examine allegations made by non-vessel-operating common carriers that Transpacific Stabilization Agreement carriers discriminated against them in their 2002-2003 service contracts, when compared to the way they treated proprietary shippers.
   At the hearings, FMC commissioner Joseph E. Brennan will take testimony under oath and receive documents in evidence, as appropriate. The hearings will be conducted in non-public sessions.
   Interested persons desiring to testify should contact the commission in Washington or send an email to NVOPetitionTsa@fmc.gov.